Worldcoin Foundation makes ORB software open-source

The Worldcoin Foundation has released the core software components of its ORB technology into the open-source domain, providing a key technological step forward in verifying human identity online with enhanced privacy and security.

The release, now available on GitHub under MIT/Apache 2.0 licenses, supports the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to improve transparency in the digital verification process, alongside its hardware and iris recognition technology that had previously gone public.

The move is part of the Foundation’s efforts to be more transparent about its biometric data collection process after multiple countries raised concerns over the practice.

Worldcoin (WLD) responded positively to the announcement and recorded gains for the day despite the overall crypto market bleeding to recent lows.

As of press time, WLD was trading at $8.26, up 4% over 24 hours — with a market cap of $1.28 billion, based on CryptoSlate data.

Comprehensive compute stack

The ORB’s function is to authenticate users by processing their eye and face images, distinguishing genuine human users from automated systems or artificial intelligence.

The latest open-source release focuses on the software responsible for capturing images and securely transmitting them to the World App, underlining the Foundation’s commitment to open and verifiable processes.

Worldcoin’s initial developer, Tools for Humanity (TFH), has built a comprehensive compute stack for the ORB around the NVIDIA Jetson platform, enabling real-time processing of camera feeds for quick World ID verification.

This setup utilizes Rust applications and NVIDIA’s TensorRT engine, emphasizing high performance and security in handling sensitive biometric data.

The code release provides insights into the Orb’s functionality, including image capture, biometric processing, and the secure encryption and transmission of user data. By making these components public, the Worldcoin Foundation aims to showcase the underlying technology’s robustness and reliability in privacy and security matters.

ORB audit

Trail of Bits has completed a security audit of ORB technology, following concerns raised by global regulators over its biometric data collection practices.

The audit identified 12 vulnerabilities, including one severe issue, but affirmed the technology’s adherence to privacy standards in handling personally identifiable information. Worldcoin has addressed the high-severity issue post-audit and is implementing further improvements based on the recommendations.

The Foundation plans to continue enhancing the software’s transparency and reducing dependence on proprietary components. This initial release includes critical elements such as orb-core, orb-attest, and orb-firmware.

Future endeavors will likely involve further opening the development process and improving the Orb’s security and privacy framework, potentially serving as a model for similar technological initiatives.